Building the World’s Tallest Building
In 1976, Sylvie (Jessica Ranville), a fiercely independent single mother, is upset that her daughter Rayne (Kiana Kabeary) wants to follow in the footsteps of her grandfather Joe Pakulski (Devin Cortez) and become an ironworker. After an argument leads Rayne to storm out in anger, Sylvie finds herself going through a collection of old photographs and letters from decades earlier when Joe was one of the many men who worked on the construction of the Empire State Building.The story shifts to late 1929 when said building is just a gleam in certain people’s eyes, ones who include former New York State Governor Al Smith (a nicely bombastic Paul Salvatoriello) and Frances Belle “Wally” Wolodsky (Kaitlyn Davidson), a seasoned mover and shaker in the political arena. She’s the one person Smith counts on to get things done.
Looking to bounce back from a failed presidential campaign, Smith hopes to cement his legacy through the construction of the 100-plus story Al Smith Building (the structure’s original moniker)—a building so high it will practically touch the sky.
While Wally deals with the millions of details that come with such a project, from getting the proper building permits and ordering everything from steel, brick, concrete, and marble to handling heating, electrical, and elevator contracts, the workers who actually have to build what is being envisioned come into focus. Among the men of Irish, Polish, Italian and Mohawk extraction, each carries his own prejudice and hatred born from past experiences, yet all are willing to face the danger of working hundreds of feet in the air where they need to depend on one another for their very survival.
Other complicating factors include the recent stock market crash and economic downturn; hesitation from New York City Mayor Jimmy Walker (Cortez), who is battling pressures to cancel the project, despite the number of jobs it will bring; and those in Smith’s inner circle who are more than ready to cast Wally into the political wilderness should the entire effort collapse. Wally must work closely with the building’s architect, Charles Kinney (Albert Guerzon), who happens to be her ex-fiancé.
“Empire” touches on a number of topical subjects: women’s rights in the workplace, the pressure those with money and influence can bring to bear, and the media’s ability to jump to conclusions long before the truth is discovered.
Its core emphasis, however, is all about the legacy one leaves behind. A common refrain among the workers is that while the public at large may not remember just who helped to build the Empire State Building, those who actually did the work will know, as will their children and grandchildren. Hand in hand with their legacy is the pride each of the workers take in what they do, and the satisfaction that comes with a job well done.
Unfortunately, the show throws so many characters and storylines into the mix that it quickly becomes hard to follow them all. Also unclear are the relationships between the characters. When one comes to the forefront and reveals a heretofore unknown plot point, it can feel rushed and disjointed. This is particularly true during the “bridge” scenes where Sylvie interacts with characters from the past. It doesn’t help that one major character’s future is left unsettled, with a few others missing a proper denouement.
For all its problems, “Empire,” which clocks in at just over two and half hours, rarely feels bloated, aside from a musical number set in a speakeasy that could have been replaced with a few lines of dialogue. Cady Huffman’s direction is quite good and the cast give it their all. They’re just hamstrung by a book and score that could be so much better.
One of the show’s high points is the enjoyable choreography by Lorna Ventura, including “Lookahee” which takes place on a steel girder and offers an example of the workers bonding. Another highlight is the comic “Protect What’s Mine,” a song which comes with a clear “not-in-my-backyard” attitude.
“Empire” is a show with a lot to offer, but it’s still a work under construction.
